Dry Cleaning Facilities

Dry Cleaning
facilities using perchloroethylene (PERC) are subject to Federal rules called the
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). PERC is a toxic
chemical and a suspected carcinogen with both environmental and human health concerns.

Dry Cleaning facility owners should strive to provide the safest environment for
workers and a clean environment around the facility (land, air, and water). To learn
more, see OSHA’s Reducing Worker Exposure to PERC in Dry Cleaning.
Compliance with Federal rules and regulations governing the dry cleaning industry
will reduce exposure of workers and customers to PERC. It will also save the owners
money since proper maintenance and preventing leaks and spills leaves more PERC
to be reused in the machines.

In Forsyth County, our agents inspect Dry Cleaning facilities for compliance with
NESHAP, the air quality rules under the Federal Clean Air Act governing dry cleaning
facilities using PERC. We enforce the rules through issuance of violations, civil
penalties, and by providing educational assistance when requested and/or needed.
The Dry Cleaning Solvent
Cleanup Act (DSCA) program, operated by the State of North Carolina’s Division
of Waste Management, inspects Dry Cleaning facilities for compliance with waste
management rules and housekeeping requirements under the DSCA program. Occasionally,
our agents will operate joint inspections with agents from the DSCA program, allowing
us to become more familiar with State waste management and DSCA requirements. When
schedules or frequency of inspections do not allow for joint inspections, our Office
directs waste management and DSCA related problems to the State if our inspectors
find them during annual air quality inspections.